Old sheets are the cheapest rug material in the house, and this is how to make a rag rug out of them without a loom, a sewing machine or a single stitch. The Amish knot method, also called a toothbrush rug, loops torn fabric strips around each other in a flat spiral until you have a round rug. It is beginner-friendly, it costs almost nothing, and it works in any size and any color you want. I like mixing prints on purpose, because you never know what pattern is going to show up until the last round is done. That is genuinely the fun part.
To make a rag rug the Amish knot way, tear old sheets into one and a half inch strips, lock two strips together through a small cut hole, then use a toothbrush needle to pull each strip through a loop and knot it in a widening circle. The only tool you need is that needle, and you can bend one from wire and painter’s tape.
Amish Knot Rug Materials
- old sheets or duvet cover
- wire
- wire cutters
- painter’s tape
How to Make a Round Amish Knot Rug
Step 1:
Make toothbrush needles. Cut a piece of wire that is 3 inches long. Fold the ends toward the center, making two loops. Take a piece of masking tape and wrap the ends together.
Step 2:
Cut your old sheets into 1 ½” strips. You can just cut on one end and rip it towards the other end. Remove the fray from the strips.
Step 3:
Get two strips of fabric. Hold one of the strips, fold the end, then cut a hole. Do the same for the other strip, then insert the strip through the hole of the first piece. Take the end of the second strip and insert it through its hole on the other end. Pull until it locks.
Step 4:
Insert the working end through the toothbrush needle. Fold the working strip across the strip to make a loop, then insert the needle. Pull the fabric all the way while holding it with your index finger. Repeat and this time use your ring finger. Move your fingers and keep repeating the process until there are 6 holes.
Step 5:
Frequently Asked Questions
What fabric works best for an Amish knot rug?
Old bed sheets and duvet covers, cut or torn into strips about one and a half inches wide. Cotton tears in a straight line, so you can cut one end and rip the rest of the way down, then pull off the fray. Mixing different colors and prints is worth doing on purpose, because the pattern only shows up as the rug grows.
Do you need a toothbrush needle to make one?
You need a needle of some kind, and the toothbrush needle is the traditional one. You can buy one in stores or online, or make one from a three inch piece of wire: fold both ends toward the center so they form two loops, then wrap the ends together with painter’s tape. That is the whole tool.
How do you keep an Amish knot rug from curling?
Spacing is what keeps it flat. The rug starts with six holes, and as you circle around, those holes naturally open up wider. When a hole gets too big, put two loops into that one hole instead of one. Adding stitches at the right rate is what lets the rug lie down instead of ruffling at the edge.
Turn it over so the needle is on the left side. Join the two ends of the holes that you just created. Line up the end of the other strip with the first hole. Insert the needle through the first hole, pushing it through underneath the other strip to make a knot. Repeat the process for the other holes. The holes will become bigger as you keep going around. If it’s too big, make two loops in one hole. If you run out of fabric, just repeat step 3.
Round Amish Knot Rug Video Tutorial
